Smith Becomes National Shot Put Runner-Up, Three Other Illini Earn All-America Honors

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EUGENE, Ore. – The Illinois women’s track and field team completed the second day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday (June 12) from Hayward Field at Oregon. Abria Smith left the field today as a silver medalist in the shot put while Sophia Beckmon (long jump), Tacoria Humphrey (long jump) and Mia Morello (pole vault) all became All-Americans. The Fighting Illini women currently reside in second place with 16.5 points. 

With her throw of 18.85m (61-10 1/4) Smith emerged as the women’s program’s highest finisher ever in the shot put at the NCAA Outdoor Championships as the national runner-up. Debbie Smith previously held the highest event finish for 36 years when she earned bronze in 1989. She’s the fourth individual to become an All-American in the event and collects the program’s fifth shot put All-America honor.

The Olympia Fields, Ill. native finishes her lone season at Illinois as the Big Ten Outdoor Champion in the shot put to go along with a pair of All-America honors.  She became the program’s first shot putter to earn Big Ten gold in 16 years since Olympic medalist Aja Evans last did in 2009. Smith toppled Evans’ school records both indoors and outdoors with her outdoor mark being the first time an Illinois women’s shot putter has broken the 18-meter barrier, 18.92m (62-1). Additionally, that 18.92m throw is 14th-furthest in NCAA outdoor history all-time.

Humphrey became the program’s second-ever long jump All-American today in her fourth-place finish, 6.62m (21-8 3/4), which is the highest finish in the event in school history as well. The last Illinois outdoor All-American long jumper was Becky Kaiser 43 years ago in 1982 when she placed fifth. That 1982 season was the first year the women’s team competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Humphrey closes out her senior season as the long jump champion at both the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Her 6.94m (22-9 1/4) leap she won with indoors is the third-furthest long jump in NCAA indoor history while also being the Big Ten, program and meet records.

She was the national runner-up in the event as well at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the highest an Illini woman has ever finished in the long jump. Humphrey finishes her collegiate career as three-time Big Ten Champion and two-time All-American long jumper while…